Gonna go ahead and say now that I do not have a beta reader, I do my best to catch any mistakes but when re-reading it myself I don't fail to notice when I've missed one. I just usually haven't the chance to fix it and forget about it when I do XD;
This chapter goes kinda too quickly, but I wanted to get back to Hyrule already! Also! Looks like it really WAS one-sided Ravio/Hilda XD who'd a thunk it?
EDIT Feb 19, 2014: Tried to make it longer and less rushed~ didn't succeed very well! But it IS a whole lot longer~
"Well, let's just have a look here." One of the many Royal doctors said in a rather pompous manner as he began to mockingly examine Ravio. It was clear the man thought the Princess was over reacting by calling him in. After all, Ravio looked to be in perfect health! And certainly hadn't lost any of his usual zeal from what the doctor could see. But for the sake of the Princess of Lorule, he would put up with the silly games and give her 'hero' a check up.
Heart rate? Normal. Temperature? Normal. Everything the doctor checked came out perfectly normal for the little pest. Well... except his weight. But surly hiding in a house for months on end would cause anyone to gain a few pounds. "Everything seems to be fine. What exactly were the symptoms that caused my lady to bring this... Ravio, here?" The doctor asked as he turned to Hilda raising a brow.
Ravio pouted at the comment of 'this' and open his mouth to respond. Luckily Hilda was faster and the former merchant remained frowning on the examination table.
"Ravio has been throwing up. Repeatedly if I am to believe what I've heard. And naturally I am." Hilda replied with an unimpressed look on her face. She knew the doctor thought this to be a silly charade, but she trusted her hero. She knew Ravio wasn't lying about this, and the fact Sheerow had to come after her to bring about this intervention just worried her more. How bad had her dear friend really gotten? She just had to know!
"Throwing up, huh?" The doctor repeated his hand coming to his chin in a thinking pose. "Perhaps something he ate?"
"I've barely eaten anything!" Ravio protested not liking the doctor talking as if he wasn't there.
The doctor shot Ravio a disbelieving stare. If that were the case the pest wouldn't have gained weight from normal. "Then a stomach bug." He offered again though he knew if that were the case, the res of Ravio's results wouldn't have been so normal. Frowning the doctor held his hand up heading out of the room. "One moment."
Hilda shot Ravio a worried look which he tried to respond to with a reassuring grin. He was fine! Even the doctor said so! Why was she still so worried?
A moment later the doctor returned with a strange potion in hand. "Drink this." He stated handing it to Ravio.
"What's it do?" Ravio asked eying the goopy liquid with disdain. Potions were always so foul tasting. They needed to find a way to make them taste like candy or something already. Though considering they were made out of cast off monster parts and bugs he understood the disgusting flavor.
"Hopefully, nothing." The doctor replied ominously while Ravio forced down the vile gunk. All was quite for a moment waiting to see what would happen. The doctor relaxed slightly when it appeared nothing was going to happen but his eyes grew wide when after several minutes a a pale glow came from Ravio's stomach. "Uh-umm..."
The sight hadn't missed the hero of Lorule's notice and he gave a yelp. "Is that normal?"
"Er... yes and no." The doctor answered scratching the back of his head and not making eye contact with either the now nervous hero or the worried princess.
"Well?" Hilda prodded. "What's it mean?"
XxX
Ravio was pale as the third doctor to examine him gave a funny look. "I'm a GUY!" Ravio shouted exasperated. Three doctors! One would think he must be incredibly sick right? Wrong! Perfect health! Not a thing wrong with him! ...Or the leech that was apparently growing inside of him now. The hero of Lorule groaned and flopped back onto the bed he'd been examined on for the past several hours. The only good thing about this was it got him out of that stupid too tight tunic. But now! Well he wasn't sure what to think.
Hilda, who had returned to the room to hear the final diagnosis yet again gave a hurt and confused look to Ravio. Inside she had always wished they would be together, though she knew he never saw her that way. Still! To go with the first person who came along and come back like this? It just didn't make sense!
"I was only trying to help..." Ravio said meekly barely catching the Princess' attention with his words.
Help? How could doing something like THAT help anyone?! And hadn't he claimed he'd spent his entire time in Hyrule with the Hero? Oh... the pieces started to click. Hilda's hurt look turned to one of sympathy and sadness. "When?"
At first it seemed like Ravio wouldn't be responding before he finally admitted. "Before the final fight... that's why I was kind of late. Heh..." Ravio tried to make light of the situation but Hilda wasn't in a laughing mood.
The Princess could feel nothing but sadness for her friend. Ravio had clearly cared about his counterpart especially after having stayed with him through the earlier charade. She doubted he had foreseen this possibility. Who could have? Men didn't carry children after all. Yet somehow Ravio was. And now Ravio would never see the hero again. It was almost heart breaking when she dwelled on it. "You miss him don't you."
Ravio nodded silently, not making eye contact. The entire situation was far to awkward for him to really know how to deal with it.
Eyes narrowing, Hilda clenched her fists, her resolve made. "Rise, Hero of Lorule."
Startled at Hilda's stern voice, Ravio quickly got out of the bed and stood up straight facing her nervously. "Yes your highness?"
"You have served Lorule well, Ravio." Hilda continued, Ravio's confusion only growing. "Even when all hope was lost, you found a way to save us all. We could not have asked for a better Hero." The retired merchant opened his mouth to interject but was silenced with a wave of Hilda's hand. "You have dutifully served your kingdom and have given all you had to protecting it. For that, I thank you..." Hilda seemed to struggle a bit as she came to her next sentence, a look of uncertainty and sadness on her face, her eyes growing misty. Ravio, fearing the worst, tensed and closed his eyes. "For that... I relieve you of your duties. And I vow that we shall find a way for you to return to the other world."
Hilda set her hand on Ravio's shoulder, and the gentle touch caused his to open his eyes as he processed what she'd just said. "You-! I-?" He looked at Hilda in shock. Her sad yet determined expression told all. She did not want him to go. But she would do all she could to make him happy, like he had done for her. "Thank you, princess Hilda." He said softly, bowing to her respectfully.
XxX
Now knowing why he'd been sick, Hilda assigned one of her nursemaids to stay with Ravio and make sure he ate and slept properly, which had greatly cut back on his exhaustion and helped settle his stomach. He still threw up, certainly, but not as sporadically as before.
It had taken them a few weeks to come up with a plan of action but once they did Ravio could have smacked himself at how simple and obvious it was.
The Triforce was the answer. In all the tales of the past before it had been destroyed one thing remained the same. Whoever could lay their hand on the Triforce could have their wish granted. It must have been how Link and Zelda had returned the Triforce of Lorule! And now it would be how Hilda and Ravio would safely transport Ravio to Hyrule. Once there, Ravio would be on his own, so the Princess insisted he wait a few more weeks so they could gather supplies for him, not wishing to throw her Hero to whatever beasts may still remain in Hyrule.
Despite knowing he'd have to go alone, Ravio was ecstatic about the trip. It had to work! He wouldn't even give a thought to the possibility of it not working. And even less thought to the possibility of the Triforce shattering once again, that possibility was to terrifying and grim to think about. But according to the old texts, as long as he had no evil intentions the Triforce would remain whole and grant his wish. Then he'd be back in that little house bothering the Hero whenever he stopped in, just like before! At these thoughts though, his stomach would always churn. Because it wouldn't be like before. There would be no mission for the hero. No wares for him to peddle. And not to mention the leech. Ravio still wasn't positive what he would do about that. But the former merchant decided he'd figure it out with time. Right now, though, Ravio was busying himself by examining the contents of his packed bag. He wanted to make sure he had anything of importance this time around. Unlike before, there was zero probability of him being able to return to Lorule again.
"Ravio. It's almost time." Hilda spoke snapping Ravio from his thoughts as the hero of Lorule debated leaving the stuffy tunic he hated so much. "Are you fully prepared to enter the sacred realm?" She asked stoically. They had to proceed with great caution. Though Ravio didn't want to think about it, Hilda couldn't stop. If things went wrong the Triforce which they'd gone through so much to see once more, could shatter again and leave her kingdom to die, this time having no way to restore it again. She internally shivered at the thought, but held strong. Ravio had gone to such lengths to make her happy and stop her and Yuga's scheme. He deserved to receive the same treatment. Surely the goddesses would not curse them by allowing their Triforce to break again while fulfilling his wish. He'd given enough to deserve it.
"Yep! Just double checking is all, princess!" Ravio answered with a wide grin feeling bizarrely over happy as he grabbed his diary off the desk and shoved it into one of his packs. Whatever he brought now would be all he had until he could find Link again.
He blamed the leech, for his unnecessary happiness over leaving. He'd learned from Hilda's maid that pregnancy could vastly effect the mother's moods, and though he hated to think about it, Ravio couldn't deny his moods were being effected. Luckily he was only feeling excessive happiness and not more undesirable emotions.
Continuing to smile, Ravio took one last look over his house to make sure he hadn't missed anything. It really did look like a vacant house now. "This is it buddy." He spoke softly to Sheerow who sat perched on his bunny hat. "Say good-bye to home."
Sheerow gave a sad chirp and pecked Ravio's head lightly causing the man to smile at his beloved companion. With a nod, Ravio turned away from the house and faced Hilda. "Ready when you are Princess! Lead the way!" And giving a sad smile, Hilda did just that.
XxX
Ravio stood by his princess in nervous excitement. The calm and serene landscape around them was easily identified as their newly purified sacred realm. Since the re-birth of Lorule's Triforce, the sacred realm had gone from a place of frightening darkness that smelt of decay, to a thriving beautiful landscape surrounding the sacred symbol at it's center. It was utterly breathtaking.
"This is where we must say good-bye, Ravio." Hilda spoke softly, not wanting to risk disturbing the peace and tranquility of the realm. She smiled at her hero who was laden down with multiple bags, both those containing his own possessions, and ones containing things her nursemaids believed he would need in the coming months. "I wish I could go with you, if only to make sure you remained alright." She confessed bowing her head. "But my place is here guiding Lorule towards a new era."
Ravio nodded and took Hilda's hand in his own. "I'll be fine." he said softly a gentle smile on his face. "No need to worry 'bout ole' Ravio. I'm durable enough after all." As if to prove his point Ravio tugged on one of the ears on his hat, bringing forth a small giggle from Hilda.
With renewed faith in her hero, Hilda tightened her grip on the hand he was holding, and pulled his hand along with hers as she reached out for the Triforce. Anxiety building as she did so. This was it. The moment that could bring happiness of disaster. "Wish well, Ravio."
Closing his eyes at the importance of this moment, Ravio focused on what it was he wanted most. To return to Hyrule. To see Link... When he finally risked reopening his eyes a large doorway had formed before them, a golden glow radiating from it. Nothing but more of the brilliant color could be seen through the passageway.
Hilda, relieved yet still saddened, pulled her hand away from Ravio's and took a step back. "A new journey awaits you, Ravio."
The former merchant nodded slightly a smile growing and splitting his face. "Come on, Sheerow! Hyrule-"
"No."
Ravio paused and turned to look at Hilda finally realizing that Sheerow was not fling around his head like normal, but remained perched on the princess's shoulder, giving a sad peep. "Sheerow?"
"I'm sorry, Ravio." Hilda spoke slowly, not making eye contact. "But when I said you must go alone... That means Sheerow must stay here as well."
The hero of Lorule visibly deflated, his good mood instantly vanishing. He hadn't even considered that Sheerow wouldn't be coming with him! But from the looks of it, Sheerow had known all along. "But..." Hilda shook her head and Sheerow peeped once again.
"I'm sorry, Ravio. but this is how it must be. It is dangerous enough allowing you to go. We cannot risk sending anyone else." She stepped forward and took his hands in hers. "We will both miss you. So very much." Hilda continued, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Ravio's lips like she'd always wanted to, before giving the hero a hard shove into the gateway. "Good-bye..."